Enzyme Active Site And Substrate Guide

An enzyme is a complex protein folded into a unique three-dimensional shape. Within this large structure is a small, specialized pocket or groove known as the .

This is the currently accepted model. It suggests that the active site is initially flexible and not perfectly complementary. When the substrate begins to bind, the enzyme changes shape —it wraps around the substrate like a hand clasping a ball. This induced conformational change: enzyme active site and substrate